For use in this chapter, the following words and terms are defined:
1. “Awaiting approval and receipt” describes a poor person who has applied for relief under State or Federal law, who has pursued that application with due diligence, and who has not had that application denied.
2. “Director” means the Director of Relief (or designee) appointed by the Board of Supervisors to administer the County’s General Relief Program.
3. “Disability” means the inability to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment.
4. “Family unit” or “household” means the individual applying for relief and all members of such person’s immediate family, including spouse, children under 18 years of age, all occupants and children over 18 years of age who are dependent and/or non-dependent upon the applicant. A person must be 18 years of age to receive relief. The exception to this policy is an emancipated person due to marriage. All minor children under 18 years of age must receive their assistance from their parents, unless they can provide a marriage license to determine them to be adults.
5. “Liquid assets” means cash or any other item of net worth of the family unit that can be readily converted to cash within seven (7) days.
6. “Needy person” means a person (or the family unit of that person) domiciled in the County and who, because of circumstances which are not attributable to that person, needs immediate relief.
∙ Examples of circumstances not attributable to that person: layoff, medical problems.
∙ Examples of circumstances attributable to that person: voluntary quit, failure to keep scheduled appointment for State and Federal programs, pursuing an education.
7. “Net worth” includes income or moneys from any source, moneys due, savings and other deposits, stocks, bonds, real estate, cash value of life insurance policies, jewelry, and the value of all other real and personal property. The following property is exempt from consideration: household furniture; tools and equipment used for self-support; vehicles for family unit shall not exceed $3,000; burial lots or burial irrevocable trust funds not to exceed $6,000; homestead used as a place of residence if equity does not exceed $15,000.
8. “Poor person” means a person or family unit that has no property, exempt or otherwise, and is unable, because of physical or mental disabilities, to earn a living by labor.
9. “Relief” means food, rent, shelter, clothing, transportation, telephone service, fuel lights, and medical attention.